Improvement in combined step-ladders and wash-benches



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FREDERICK S. BIDWELL, OF THOMPSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED STEP-LADDERS AND WASH-BENCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 56,475., dated November 3, 1874; application filed September 19, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI, FREDERICK S. BIDWELL, Thompsonville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a f .new and Improved Combined Step-Ladder and Bench, of which the following is a specification:

I the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of my combined step-ladder and bench, shown in position as step-ladder. Figs. 2 and 3, respectively; are rear and side views of the same; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the same in position as a wash-bench.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to so improve the combined step-ladder and wash-bench patented under date of February 3, 187 and numbered 147 ,003, th at a stronger ladder and washbech is obtained, and especially the latter, braced in a more rigid and superior manner.

The invention consists in the introduction of a supplementary brace-frame pivoted to the lower part of the ladder-supporting frame, so that when the ladder is used as a wash-bench and the supplementary frame set into the socket-s of the ladder part, the supporting-frame, jointly with the shelfbrace, forms diagonal braces for the wash-bench and stiffens the same more fully for the heavy weight generally placed thereon.

In the drawing, A represents thefstep-ladder, and B the supporting-frame, hinged thereto' in the usual manner, both being braced at the bottom by metallic bands or strips @,which are pivoted to both frames and to each other at a', so as to swing up sidewise of each other when the step-ladder and brace part are folded up, as shown in Fig. 3. A shelf, C, is pivoted to the upper part of frame B and thrown in horizontal position for sustaining a pail of water or other article, for the greater convenience of the work to be done. A hinged brace-piece, D, of shelf C slides along a guide-band or staple, b, of frame B, and locks firmly in position to support the shelf by' a notch, d, and bandspring d', as shown in Fig. 1. A supplementary .brace-frame, E,with diagonal stiffening-pieces, is pivoted to the lower part of brace part B and swung up between the same when in use as a step-ladder; but when the same is changed into a wash-bench, frame E is swung toward the ladder A and set into sockets or bands f of the same, forming Athereby one supporting-brace of the bench. The other brace is formed by the shelf C, which is firmly braced in diagonal direction with frame E by the supporting-frame B, while the shelf-supportin g brace D acts also as diagonal brace in opposite direction thereto, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus frame B and brace D are turned to advantage, whether the device is made use of as step-ladder or wash-bench, and thereby, especially in the latter case, a stronger and more rigidly braced frame obtained, which is less shaky and more capable to resist the strain exerted thereon by the heavy weight thereon.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the step-ladd er A and supporting-frame B, of the supplementary pivoted frame E and the braced shelf C D, as and for the purpose set forth. w,

FREDERICK S. BIDWEIIL. 

